Beautiful music poured out of the Amphitheater Saturday evening, compelling anyone walking nearby to stop and listen to the Charlottesville and University Symphony Orchestra's "Symphony Under the Stars."
While we in the audience listened and relaxed, director and conductor Kate Tamarkin got a real workout. She was noticeably tired afterward but it was even plainer to see the look of satisfaction on her face when all was said and done.
There was no program but the conductor graciously introduced each song, allowing the audience to easily identify each piece. First was the "Light Cavalry Overture" by Franz von Suppe. A strong and beautiful piece of music, and the orchestra took it by storm. The clarinet was particularly impressive and had a nice, expressive part.
Next was a medley of Leonard Bernstein'sWest Side Story. I have played several medleys from that musical and can easily say that none of my performances were as nice as this one. Among the selections were "Maria," "Tonight," "I Feel Pretty," "Cool" and "America," making it a fun and enjoyable break from the mundane.
Aaron Copland's "Variations on Simple Gifts" took the stage next. The second movement of "Appalachian Springs" was especially noteworthy, as the orchestra paid its due respect to such a majestic piece, making it one of the highlights of the night.
Bringing opera into the picture was the next order of business, as Georges Bizet's "Carmen Suites" started off and blossomed into a flawlessly executed and captivating piece on its own. Kudos to the wind section here, as its performance was simply exceptional.
Le Roy Anderson's "Trumpeters Lullaby" was a nice change from the spicy Spanish music played just before. The orchestra provided support for soloist Paul Neebe, principal trumpet, who played very well and produced a sweet sound.
The orchestra turned to the movies at this point, playing the theme from E.T. It was a feel-good piece, bringing smiles to many faces.
A rather long, but very pleasant "South Pacific Medley" followed. Concert master David Colwell played his solos beautifully. The bass and brass sections carried several of the parts very nicely and the entire orchestra practically sang.
After this though, the orchestra turned again to film. An American Tail's "Somewhere Out There" was a wonderful, nostalgic choice. The only thing missing was Fievel Mousekewitz himself.
Everyone in the audience likely had heard parts of the next piece before but was definitely entertained by the last part of Gioachino Rossini's William Tell. The balance in the orchestra was very good, resulting in a some of the clearest sound all night.
Last - but perhaps the best - piece was John Philip Sousa's "Stars and Stripes Forever." Everyone clapped along to the patriotic piece, and there were cheers after the more memorable parts. It was certainly a grand ending to the concert, leading to a repeat performance for an encore.
For those who missed the show, the Charlottesville and University Symphony Orchestra will have another concert Saturday and Sunday at 8 p.m., the first in this season's Musical Postcard series. During this series, the orchestra will play pieces centered on a different part of the world each time. The pieces will either be inspired by the geographical location or be composed by a native musician. This coming concert is a postcard from Italy and will have a piece by Giuseppe Verdi and a Bassoon Concerto featuring Elizabeth Roberts, principal bassoon. Concerts later in the series will feature France, Central Europe, England and America. The Central Europe concert appears particularly noteworthy, as the orchestra will play a piece by Chopin, who would have celebrated his 200th birthday this year.
The orchestra also will perform at a Family Holidays Concert, in which the University Singers will take part. For its last concert of the season, the orchestra is scheduled to perform the premiere of "Jefferson, In His Own Words" by faculty member Judith Shatin.
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